Magnetic separator and conveyor

ABSTRACT

A magnetic separator-conveyor apparatus is provided for removing or separating ferrous matter entrained in a liquid such as cutting oils, machine tool coolants, and the like. The apparatus utilizes a plurality of spaced magnets carried on an endless chain drive or the like, which in turn is mounted for relative movement within an elongated housing having a substantially-nonmagnetic elongated slide surface. A portion of the housing adjacent one extremity is normally submerged in the liquid to be magnetically cleansed and the remainder of the housing rises at an angle from the liquid. The ferrous matter in the liquid is magnetically attracted to the submerged portion of the slide surface and moved along the slide surface so as to be elevated out of the liquid as the spaced magnets move relative to the interior side of the slide surface. The normally-submerged portion of the housing features a novel saucer-shaped configuration which in conjunction with the novel double-chamber design of the reservoir for the liquid to be cleansed, increases the active separation surface, provides for double-pass operation and improves separation efficiency.

United States Patent [191 Linstruth [111 3,834,542 [4 Sept. 10, 1974 MAGNETIC SEPARATORAND CONVEYOR [75] Inventor: Charles A. Linstruth, Jackson,

Mich.

[73] Assignee: Van Straaten Chemical Company,

Chicago, Ill.

22 Filed: Aug.9, 1972 21 App]. No.: 279,030

3,506,128 4/1970 Pashain et a] 210/400 Primary Examiner-Theodore A. Granger Attorney, Agent, or FirmNeuman, Williams, Anderson & Olson ABSTRACT A magnetic separator-conveyor apparatus is provided for removing or separating ferrous matter entrained in a liquid such as cutting oils, machine tool coolants, and the like. The apparatus utilizes a plurality of spaced magnets carried on an endless chain drive or the like, which in turn is mounted for relative movement within an elongated housing having a substantially-nonmagnetic elongated slide surface. A portion of the housing adjacent one extremity is normally submerged in the liquid to be magnetically cleansed and the remainder of the housing rises at an angle from the liquid. The ferrous matter in the liquid is magnetically attracted to the submerged portion of the slide surface and moved along the slide surface so as to be elevated out of the liquid as the spaced magnets move relative to the interior side of the slide surface. The normally-submerged portion of the housing features a novel saucer-shaped configuration which in conjunction with the novel double-chamber design of the reservoir for the liquid to be cleansed, increases the active separation surface, provides for double-pass operation and improves separation efficiency.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 1 MAGNETIC SEPARATOR AND CONVEYOR 7 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for separating ferromagnetic material from a liquid contaminated with such material, such as a cutting oil or machine tool lubricant. More specifically, it relates to magnetic separator-conveyors and, in particular, to an improved design of the submerged portion thereof whereby separation efficiency is enhanced.

While the present invention is described herein with particular reference to a specific embodiment of a sliding-type magnetic separator-conveyor, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. The concepts disclosed herein may be readily modified or adapted to other embodiments of magnetic separatorconveyors, as those skilled in the art will recognize in the light of this disclosure.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various apparatus have heretofore been available for conveying ferromagnetic articles, for separating particles such as iron ore and for removing ferrous matter such as steel chips entrained in a liquid, such as a cutting oil or coolants, commonly utilized in various machining operations. Typical of prior art devices in these fields are the belt-type and sliding-type magnetic separator-conveyors. In the belt-type conveyors, spaced magnets are stationary and the materials to be conveyed are magnetically attracted to, and conveyed by, an intermediate moving belt. In the sliding-type of separa t o-c oyeyor, the spaced magnets move a d t h e materials to be separated and conveyed slide along an intermediate stationary normally-non-magnetic surface under the influence of the moving magnetic field.

Typical of the prior art patents in these fields are U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,218,9l6; 2,470,889; 2,591,122; 2,767,823; 2,785,801; 2,873,843; 2,881,901; 3,109,532; 3,474,892; 3,476,232; 3,487,939; and 3,581,873. Of particular interest are the aforementioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,474,892 and 3,476,232, which disclose slidingtype magnetic separator-conveyors. This is the type of separator-conveyor to which the improvement of the present invention has been applied for purposes of illustration herein.

In such apparatus, the larger the deposition area, the greater the cleansing action. The larger and heavier the particles or chips, the more readily they will separate out, particularly as compared with extremely small fines.

But the prior-art designs do not necessarily maximize the deposition area. They also do not take full advantage of gravitational effects to enhance magnetic forces. They also fail to take advantage of preferential and sequential separation techniques, which enhance separation of both large chips and small fines. The present improvement takes full advantage of such techniques and still retains the advantages of the latest prior-art designs, as is apparent from the following objects.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved magnetic separator-conveyor for removing magnetizable matter from liquids. It is another general object to provide a magnetic separator- 2 conveyor employing proven techniques but having enhanced separation efficiency.

It is another general object to provide an apparatus of the type described wherein no moving parts are exposed to the liquid and/or the ferrous matter entrained therein. It is a further general object to provide an apparatus wherein the assembly thereof may be utilized with a variety of tanks, sumps, or reservoirs which may vary in size and shape over a wide range. It is a still further general object to provide an apparatus which is capable of automatic, continuous or intermittent operation.

It is a specific object to increase the effective area of the separation surface on magnetic separators without materially increasing the overall size thereof. It is another specific object to provide a magnetic separator featuring multi-stage, preferential separation techniques. It is another specific object to provide an improved design for magnetic separator-conveyors which SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a specific embodiment these objects are achieved by a magnetic separator of improved design in combination with a vessel, reservoir or tank of complementary design which achieves the desired liquid flow pattern. In brief, in contrast with prior-art designs, the portion of the conveyor which is submerged in the contaminant-containing liquid has a saucer-shaped configuration. In addition, the design of the reservoir directs the liquid over the'upper surface of the saucer initially, and than along the lower surface and over a weir, whereby the liquid is exposed to more surface in a multi-stage sequential, preferential-separation pattern which takes advantage of gravitational effects and enhances separation efficiency.

The tank or reservoir has a bottom, upstanding sidewalls, a liquid infeed or inlet port, and a liquid discharge port. Disposed within the tank is the conveyor assembly which includes an endless chain drive which is power driven for movement in one direction. Mounted on, and movable with, thechain drive are a plurality of magnets arranged in spaced relation and disposed transverse the chain drive. The magnets are mounted for movement within an elongated housing having a non-magnetic slide surface.

The housing includes, adjacent the end which is normally submerged, a central section, a first end section extending at an upward slant angle and terminating above the tank sidewalls, and a'second, but shorter, end section extending at an upward slant angle from the opposite end of the central section. The housing sections cooperate with one another to form a saucer-shaped surface also cooperates with the tank sidewalls and bottom to form a second chamber which is disposed beneath, and is in communication with, the first chamber. The liquid accumulates within or flows through the second chamber before it is discharged from the tank.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of one embodiment of the improved magnetic separatorconveyor apparatus with a sidewall of the tank or reservoir partially removed; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view, on a slightly smaller scale, taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

It should be understood that the two figures in the drawing are not necessarily to scale and that graphic symbols and diagrammatic representations are employed in some instances. Moreover, details shown in one figure may be omitted in the other figure to facilitate illustration of still other details. Furthermore, mechanical details which do not relate to the essence of the invention have been omitted in the interest of simplicity and economy. Thus, the figures may depart in certain respects from the appearance of an actual physical embodiment but are more than adequate to teach those skilled in the art how to practice the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING INCLUDING PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, the embodiment of an improved magnetic separator-conveyor comprises a large tank, sump, reservoir, or the like 11 into which flows a liquid L having entrained therein ferrous matter F. The liquid L may be a cutting oil, coolant, etc., commonly used in machining operations. The tank 11 is provided with a bottom 12, and upstanding sidewalls 13. One sidewall may be provided with an infeed port 14 located adjacent the upper portion thereof. A liquid discharge port or slot 15 may be formed in a second sidewall of the tank, effectively forming a weir or settling separator.

Disposed within the tank 11 is a conveyor assembly 16 which includes an elongated housing 17 having a central section I, a first end section II which extends upwardly at a slant angle from one end of section I and terminates above the tank sidewalls; and a second end section III which extends upwardly at a slant angle from the opposite end of section I. The end sections II and III in the illustrated embodiment extend divergently upwardly from the central section I.

As seen in FIG. 2, the central section I, as well as the lower portion of section II, and a substantial portion of section III, are submerged within the liquid L accumulated in tank 11. At least the portions of the housing which are submerged within the liquid L are sealed against, or are impervious to, the accumulated liquid. The housing sections I, II and III cooperate with one another to form a continuous exterior slide surface S to which the ferrous matter F is attracted and moved therealong in a manner to be described more fully hereinafter.

Mounted within the housing 17 is an endless chain drive or belt means 18, shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2, or equivalent. Mounted on and carried by the chain drive or belt means 18 are a plurality of magnets 20. The magnets are preferably of elongated configuration and are arranged in substantially uniformly spaced relation. Each magnet extends substantially the full width of the housing slide surface S. The magnets 20 are in sliding contact with the inner surface of the continuous slide surface S of the housing 17, or very close thereto.

The chain drive or belt means 18 is supported within the housing interior by a series of conventional sprockets or pulleys 21- and a suitable motor 22 is mounted on the upper portion of housing section II to impart driving force thereto. The motor may be provided with suitable controls wherein it may be automatically operated continuously or intermittently over predetermined periods of time in accordance with a signal from an exterior source, computerized program or the like. Because of the fact that at least the portion of the housing 17 submerged in the liquid is sealed against or is impervious to the liquid, the belt means, magnets, and sprockets or pulleys are not contaminated by the liquid and the ferrous matter entrained therein. Thus, little or no maintenance of the conveyor components is required.

As seen in FIG. 2, which shows the generally saucer shaped configuration of the slide surface S in profile, the upper segment of the slide surface cooperates with the tank sidewalls to form a first chamber C into which the liquid initially flows. A second segment of the slide surface cooperates with the bottom and sidewalls of the tank to form a second chamber C which is disposed beneath the first chamber, and is connected thereto by a suitable conduit 23 (see FIG. 1). Chamber C is in communication with the discharge port 15.-The location of the port 15, relative to the tank bottom 12, enables chamber C to function as a weir; and, thus, the liquid which flows out through port 15 is substantially free of entrained ferrous matter.

In the upper chamber C the largest amount of ferrous matter is removed from the liquid, in part by gravitating onto the upper segment of the slide surface, as well as being magnetically attracted thereto. In the lower chamber C the entrained ferrous matter which was not removed in chamber C is subjected to a second-stage sequential separation by the magnetic attraction of the lower segment of the slide surface S.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the ferrous matter which gravitationally settles more quickly will be preferentially removed in the upper chamber C whereas that less influenced by gravity and not removed in chamber C will be magnetically removed in chamber C That removed in chamber C is then magnetically conveyed on the slide surface out of chamber C through chamber C where additional separation takes place, and the combined separated contaminants moved upwardly along housing section II. As in conventional practice, the ferrous matter F is then removed from the surface and is diverted by gravity into a suitable collector, not shown, for subsequent recycling through a melting furnace or for disposal in any suitable manner.

Because of the substantial area of the exterior slide surface of the housing which is submerged within the accumulated liquid, the removal of the ferrous matter from the liquid is highly effective. The two-stage, sequential and preferential separation occurring in chambers C, and C is further enhanced by the weir effect of port 15, which tends to hold back any remaining entrained particles. Thus, the liquid, which flows out through port is substantially free of entrained ferrous matter; and, therefore, may be reused as a cutting oil, coolant, or the like.

The size and shape of the housing may, of course, vary from that shown and will depend upon the configuration of the tank, sump or reservoir in which the liquid to be treated is accumulated.

From the above description it is apparent that the objects of the present invention have been achieved. While only one embodiment has been set forth, alternative embodiments and various modifications and adaptations thereof will be apparent from the above description to those skilled in the art. For example, the concepts set forth herein as illustrated in connection with the slide conveyors can be adapted to belt conveyors.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a magnetic separator-conveyor apparatus for removing ferra'rrmafi entrained in a liquid within a tank having a bottom and upstanding walls, said apparatus comprising an elongated enclosed housing having a continuous exterior slide surface and means for magnetically attracting and conveying the ferrous material along said continuous exterior slide surface, said housing including a substantially horizontal central section which may be positioned adjacent and spaced above the bottom of a tank, a first end section extending upwardly from one end of said central section which may terminate above the walls of a tank, and a second end section extending upwardly from the opposite end of said central section, said first and said second end sections extending divergently upwardly from said central section, portions of said first and said second end sections and said central section being submergible within a liquid accumulated in a tank, said means for magneti cally attracting the ferrous material being disposed within said housing and adjacent to said continuous exterior slide surface; the submergible portions of said housing being impervious to the accumulated liquid.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said first end section includes means, disposed adjacent the portion of said first end section above the walls of the tank, for effecting removal of ferrous matter from the continuous exterior slide surface.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said means for magnetically attracting comprises a plurality of magnets mounted substantially coextensive with the width dimension of said slide surface.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said magnets are arranged in substantially uniformly spaced relationship.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein segments of said continuous exterior slide surface may cooperate with the walls of a tank to form a first chamber through which the liquid initially flows and a second chamber beneath the first chamber and in communication therewith and through which the liquid next flows and from which the liquid is discharged subsequent to ferrous matter being removed therefrom.

6. A magnetic conveyor apparatus comprising a tank, and an assembly for removing ferrous matter entrained in a liquid accumulated within said tank; said tank having a bottom and sidewalls, liquid infeed means, and liquid discharge means spaced from said infeed means; said assembly including a driven chain, magnetic means carried by and movable with said driven chain, and an elongated enclosed housing; said driven chain and said magnetic means being disposed within said housing; said housing including a central substantially horizontal section whereby said central section may be submerged within liquid accumulated in a tank, a first end section extending upwardly and outwardly from one end of said central section and having a lower portion thereof which may be submerged within accumulated liquid and an upper portion terminating above the tank walls,

and a second end section extending upwardly and outwardly from the opposite end of said central section and which may be at least partially submerged within accumulated liquid, the portions of the housing which may be submerged within the liquid being sealed against accumulated liquid, the sections of said housing forming a continuous exterior slide surface to which ferrous matter is attracted and movable therealong, said upper portion of said first end section being provided within means for removing ferrous matter moving along said slide surface, said magnetic means being disposed adjacent to and movable relative to the interior side of said continuous exterior slide surface; segments of said continuous exterior slide surface cooperating with said tank interior to form interconnected upper and lower chambers in liquid communication; the upper chamber also being in liquid communication with said liquid infeed means, and the lower chamber also being in liquid communication with said liquid discharge means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said liquid discharge means comprises a discharge port elevated relative to said tank bottom whereby a weir effect is produced. 

1. In a magnetic separatorconveyor apparatus for removing ferrous matter entrained in a liquid within a tank having a bottom and upstanding walls, said apparatus comprising an elongated enclosed housing having a continuous exterior slide surface and means for magnetically attracting and conveying the ferrous material along said continuous exterior slide surface, said housing including a substantially horizontal central section which may be positioned adjacent and spaced above the bottom of a tank, a first end section extending upwardly from one end of said central section which may terminate above the walls of a tank, and a second end section extending upwardly from the opposite end of said central section, said first and said second end sections extending divergently upwardly from said central section, portions of said first and said second end sections and said central section being submergible within a liquid accumulated in a tank, said means for magnetically attracting the ferrous material being disposed within said housing and adjacent to said continuous exterior slide surface; the submergible portions of said housing being impervious to the accumulated liquid.
 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said first end section includes means, disposed adjacent the portion of said first end section above the walls of the tank, for effecting removal of ferrous matter from the continuous exterior slide surface.
 3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said means for magnetically attracting comprises a plurality of magnets mounted substantially coextensive with the width dimension of said slide surface.
 4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said magnets are arranged in substantially uniformly spaced relationship.
 5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein segments of said continuous exterior slide surface may cooperate with the walls of a tank to form a first chamber through which the liquid initially flows and a second chamber beneath the first chamber and in communication therewith and through which the liquid next flows and from which the liquid is discharged subsequent to ferrous matter being removed therefrom.
 6. A magnetic conveyor apparatus comprising a tank, and an assembly for removing ferrous matter entrained in a liquid accumulated within said tank; said tank having a bottom and sidewalls, liquid infeed means, and liquid discharge means spaced from said infeed means; said assembly including a driven chain, magnetic means carried by and movable with said driven chain, and an elongated enclosed housing; said driven chain and said magnetic means being disposed within said housing; said housing including a central substantially horizontal section whereby said central section may be submerged within liquid accumulated in a tank, a first end section extending upwardly and outwardly from one end of said central section and having a lower portion thereof which may be submerged within accumulated liquid and an upper portion terminating above the tank walls, and a second end section extending upwardly and outwardly from the opposite end of said central section and which may be at least partially submerged within accumulated liquid, the portions of the housing which may be submerged within the liquid being sealed against accumulated liquid, the sections of said housing forming a continuous exterior slide surface to which ferrous matter is attracted and movable therealong, said upper portion of said first end section being provided within means for removing ferrous matter moving along said slide surface, said magnetic means being disposed adjacent to and movable relative to the interior side of said continuous exterior slide surface; segments of said continuous exterior slide surface cooperating with said tank interior to form interconnected upper and lower chambers in liquid communication; the upper chamber alSo being in liquid communication with said liquid infeed means, and the lower chamber also being in liquid communication with said liquid discharge means.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said liquid discharge means comprises a discharge port elevated relative to said tank bottom whereby a weir effect is produced. 